Ljubljana celebrates 2000 years of Emona

This year, Ljubljana celebrates the 2000th anniversary of Emona, a Roman city that once stood on the site of one of the core areas of Ljubljana city centre. Join the celebrations and experience the atmosphere of the time of the Roman Empire!

The programme of events in celebration of the anniversary of Emona includes several interesting museum exhibitions, two Emona-themed city tours led by guides dressed in Roman costumes, and a number of other events, the major highlight being the three-day event Ave Emona!, set to be held in the central Kongresni trg square from 22 to 24 August.

Exhibitions marking the 2000th anniversary of EmonaThe City Museum of Ljubljana hosts a major Emona-themed exhibition titled Emona: A City of the Empire, which presents the role of the colony of Emona within the Roman Empire. This summer will also see the opening of the National Museum of Slovenia's new permanent exhibition entitled Stories from the Meeting Point of Different Worlds, which will bring together various archaeological finds from Roman times discovered across Slovenian territory.

Emona-themed eventsThis year, Ljubljana will host so many Emona-themed events that it is impossible to mention them all. The main highlight will be the living history event Ave Emona!, set to be held over three days in August. The event, during which Ljubljana's Kongresni trg square will be transported back to Roman times, will feature performances by members of different Slovenian and international historical societies acting the roles of Roman legionaries, senators, Vestal Virgins, craftsmen, etc. Those attending the event will be able to taste Roman dishes and get souvenirs from a Roman market.

Roman sights of LjubljanaIn the centre of Ljubljana, the layout of several streets and squares is based on the layout of their Roman predecessors and a number of Roman remains have actually been preserved to the present day. Apart from two archaeological parks (Emona House and Early Christian Centre), you can see one of the longest Roman city walls in this part of Europe, the remains of a Roman road preserved in the basement rooms of the City Museum of Ljubljana, an interesting interactive museum exhibition titled iEmona and much more.

Experiencing Roman Emona – guided tours and tripsExperience the atmosphere of Emona. Join one of the two special Emona-themed city tours giving you an opportunity to put on Roman robes, explore the traces of Roman history in the streets and squares of Ljubljana in the company of a professional guide and a Roman legionary, and learn about Roman culture, customs, and daily life through a street performance. Evening tours are held by torchlight. Roman lunch or dinner can be arranged for organized groups as part of the tour.

Should you interested in visiting not only Emona, but also some other major Roman sights of Slovenia, join a full-day trip called Via Slovenica, which also includes the remains of the Roman cities of Celeia and Poetovia.